Card holder



May 1011932- LE Rol E. HUTCHINGS 1,858,219

CARD HOLDER Filed NOV. ll, 1929 Patented May 10, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFC LE. nor E. HUTcHINGs, or TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR TOREMINGTON RAND- VINC., or Burri-ino, NEW YORK Y CARD HOLDER Application led November 11, 1929. p Serial No. 406,247.

. This invention relates to improvements in visible index equipment and particularly to a card and signal mounting.

The invention is designed to provide a card holder which will engage and retain a card against movement therein and which is adapted for detachable cooperation with a suitable supporting element in such a manner that the card will be readily removable from the supporting element and at the same time will be edectively .secured thereto in attached relation to prevent accidental disengagement.

One of the objects of the present invention 'Y is to provide a visible index in which cards or sheets of relatively cheap, light-weight material may have card holders readily applied thereto so that the sheets may be detachably connected to suitable supporting elements mounted in spaced relation so that the lower edges of the cards when lying upon the other will be relatively offset.

A further object of the invention is to provide a special signal member which is also movable on the support by a holder of the same type as used for the card. This permits independent mounting of the card and the associated signal on the same support, wherein either is independently demountable.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a holder which will suitably space the inner edges of the cards from the supporting elements so that the cards may be freely rotated about the supporting elements on a plurality of card holders which are adapted to be simultaneously engaged or disengaged from the supporting elements.

The invention further comprehends the provision of visible index equipment utilizing these novel card holders with suitable supporting elements which are adapted to permit lateral shifting of the cards to offset certain cards with respect to others in an index panel, and with which a signal maybe interchangeably associated. In this connection the invention includes a new combination in providing the mounting of the signal on the supporting element in detachable relation, independently ofthe detachable mounting for theindex card.

`A further feature of the invention resides l of the invention, it being also understood, that various changes in the relation, construction and association ofthe parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application,

Fig. lis a perspective view of a card holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 lis a fragmentary elevational view of a group of cards mounted on the supporting elements carried by a panel and show-v ing the relation of the parts when assembled and also illustrating the manner in which one or more cards may be offset with respect to the others and a signal in cooperative relation with the cards. f

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational vienT showing the end portions of the holders i engagement with the panel.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the clip by means of which a card is detachably secured to a holder.

Fig. V5 is a sectional view through a clip and holder in operative position.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a card in operative position on a holder and illustrating the position of the supplemental doublesheet structure when mounted in position thereon.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section- Referring to the drawings, a panel or the like is indicated at 1 which may be or any desired form as used in connection With visible index equipment Well known in the art, and is provided With guide channels 2 on the opposite edges thereof. Card-supporting holders 3 are applied transversely of the panel 1 and have the end portions extend-ing into the channels 2 by which they .are secured in the panel, as shown in Fig. 1 in parallel relation. The card holders 3 are preferably constructed as shown in Figfl and comprise a. flexible Wire 4 the surface of which is preferably tinned.

lLugs 5 are molded onto the opposite ends "of the irire l3 lfor engagement With `vthe chan 'nels i2 Voil the panel `and v-are preferably formed `lvi'th lbeveled 'outer Yends 6to facilitate their insertion between adjacent holders. A plurality or' intermediate lugs l *are also molded around the Wire 4 at spaced intervals Jfrom each other and are provided with oppositely etendifng root portions 8 adapted vto enga'ge the -'ccirresponding foot portions 'ot the 'lugs 7 on the next adjacent holders, The lugs 5 'and 7 are preferably -constructed of type YmetaflV and are molded 'around the Wire by 'suitable dies and unite with the tin surface of 'the Wire `thus preventing them 'from subsequently turning or becoming Ydisplaced thereon card-cengaging-clip for association With theyholders is indicated vat 9 in Fig. 4 `and fpreterably comprises a thin strip'of material f folded at its central portion as indicated at l0, 'one end portion of 'which is -Wi'denas indicated at 11, than the "opposite lend portion A12. The portion 11 is substantially 'flat throughout its 'lengthand is adjacent the end porti-on 12 'to provide a `-car`dholding portion 'vhih is provided at the Ytree end with a laterally extending {iai-ige 13 biiurcated, as indica'ted at 14, Land having the terminals of the fbifu'rcated portion formed into -a substantially ilil-'shaped Aor semi-circular portion 15 extending from the langel and Yadapted Alto embrace the WireA 4 'of the holder `3) betWeen lthe :lugs 7. The portion v12'ot'the clip is tapered towards its free end, as illustratl edjin Fig. 4, which extends beyond the ends "ofthe bifurcated portion 14 land .beyond the Wire embracing portions 15. Theterminal lportion of the portion l1:2 is slightly oilset, as indicated at '16to provide a vWire-engaging lipfadapted to aid in the ready/application vof the clip V'to the Wire of 'the holder.

The vportion l2 is normally held by its "own resiliency in substantial Contact-With the porti-on ll so as to clamp the uppervedge potionof the Icard in the receiving -portion of the holder and also to hold the Wire-embracing portion 15 soas'to-cl'amp the lclip in pivotal engagement with the Wire 4. rI-he Vl'ipis applied'to a 'card 1-7 as illustrated in Figs. 5 'and l6-by 'insertionof the tongue -12 through a slot 18 formed in spaced parallel relation to the inner edge of the card so that the edge portion of the card is seated against the portion 11 of the clip. A pair of these clips is usually applied to a card, as illustrated in Fig. 6, adjacent to the opposite end portions.

The .clips 9 are applied With the card to the Wire 4 as shown in Fig. 6 with the Wireklenflera'ci'ui'g'g portions T5 'on the 'underside "of 'the vsupporting elements While the tongues 16 Aa-re on the upper side thereof. To apply these clips to the Wire they are grasped between the `fingers pla-ced at opposite ends of the card 17 and the odset portions 16Hare -moved- Sinto engagement 'with (the supporting elements. Then, by depressing for pressing downwardly on lthe @lip's simultaneously the tongues 112 will be fexed to .permit movement yor 'the Wire-embracing portions lS :and `the portion 11 away from tlrevp'ortion S12 a's a result ot which the wireeembracing portions be passed around fand below the Wire and the clips fmoved into fthe engaged tion. lVhen 'it is desired to remove the card and the clips trom the supporti-ng 'element this maybe done fby rotating the card tourn inclined position about the Wirefanal then through .grasping the 'card and the cli-psfad- :jacent to the ."portion 16 and pressing'down- Wardly the `tongues l2 will be d'lene'd lagain to permit the movement 'of the portions 115 away 'from the Wire as a result "of which the holders may `be readily and simultaneously detached. f

l/Vhen these clips afre in the tattached position the tongues l2 cooperate with the supporting engaginglportions 1'5 i'nfsu'oh la manner that by 'exerting ga. l.pull lengthwise or -in `the plane 'of the ycard 17, the card holders will not become detached :from -the support- 'ing elements. Accidental disengagements -ot Athe cards during normal -u'se for Aindex-.ing is rthereby iprevented. Y

l/Vith particular 'reference to lllig. '65a Sheetv 1'9 is Ifolded upon -itseltto'torm 'laps vor leaves 20and2-l .andlis appliedoverthe Wire 4 in close proximity to .the inner-edge of the card. The leaf `20 is engaged iagalinst the front :tace of the 'card and maybe iiexedup- Ward-ly along it'sfli-ne of fold. The fold portion of the sheet fl9-adjacentto the vhinge is `provided with elongated openings 22 through which the lugs A7.p'r-oject., flnfassemlbly the llugs 7 on adjacent card holders tco- Y operate With lthe lcard and the sheet -to eiectively retain the `'fold portion thereof ,in close pronimitygyvi-th the Kinner ledge of the o ard. rlhus the 'folded lsheet -is maintained 'against longitudinal displacement relative the panelI 1 by 'ad-jacentholdersand cardsas shoWnin Fig. 7, and against later-al'disp'labementfby 'theengagement lof the Wallsfofi-ts opening 22 IWith Ythesides of the 'll'lgs `27 lVith the use of bar construction fshotvn 'in use Fig. 1 in an assembled index structure as shown in Fig. 2 the card holders 9 may be applied so that the cards may be secured to the bars in either of two positions, providing for lateral offsetting of one or more cards with respect to the others to obtain advantages in filing systems used for accounting records. This offsetting may be obtained by removing` the clips from the wires and remounting them thereon in the odset position. The arrangement of the cards as shown in Fig. 2 illustrates the positions in which the cards may be applied to the supporting wires 4 in obtaining this offsetting feature.

A. further advantage of this offsetting feature is illustrated in Fig. 2 which shows how a signal may be advantageously mounted in a similar manner. The signal indicated at 23, is provided with a slot 24 at the inner end for receiving one of the clips 9. The signal may be detachably applied to the supporting element structure, preferably between the two lugs, nearest the center for signalling cooperation with the card secured on the same element. With this arrangement the signal, due to the resilient mounting of its clip, is slidably adjustable for a considerable range of lateral movement on the face of its accompanying card. This also provides an y independent mounting for the signal and the card so that they may both be readily applied and removed from the supporting wires.

The invention above described may be modified in construction and arrangement without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A card holder for index or filing systems, comprising a wire, a. lug secured to each end of said wire for engagement with a panel, and intermediate lugs secured to said wire at spaced distances apart, all of said lugs being substantially of triangular cross-section to provide enlarged base portions for engagement with the back of the panel and with the corresponding lugs on the adjacent wire.

2. In combination, a supporting element having a plurality of spaced lugs thereon, an index card, and card holders on said card detachably engageable with said supporting element between said lugs.

3. In combination, supporting elements comprising wires having a plurality of lugs therein in spaced relation with respect to each other, means for mounting said elements with the lugs of adjacent elements in abutting relation, a plurality of index cards, and card holders having resilient means removably engageable with said elements between said lugs.

4. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of lugs thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, an index card, a card holder detachably mounting said index card on said element between said lugs, a signal, and means independently mounting said signal on said supporting element between said lugs in signalling cooperation with said card.

5. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of spaced lugs thereon, a signal for index cards, and a holder engaged with said signal and detachably and resiliently connected to said wire for selective sliding movement between two of said lugs.

6. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of lugs thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, an index card, a card holder associated with said card and detachably engaging said supporting element between said lugs in either of a plurality of positions, and a signal having holding means engageable with said supporting element between lugs in either of said plurality of positions interchangeably with said card holder. A

7. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of lugs thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, an index card, a sheet folded upon itself to provide a pair of leaves and straddling said wire along its line of fold, said sheet having a plurality of perforations provided therein on said line of fold through which said lugs are adapted to project to maintain said sheet against lateral displacement, a card holder for detachably securing said index card to said supporting element between said lugs.

8. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of lugs thereon in spaced relation with respect to each other, an index card, card holders for detachably securing said index card to said supporting element between said lugs, a sheet folded upon itself and straddling said holder and said index card, said sheet having a plurality of perforations provided therein through which said lugs are adapted to project to prevent the lateral displacement of said sheet, said lugs being adapted to engage the back of a panel and prevent the displacement of said sheet from operative relation with respect to said card.

9. In combination, a supporting element comprising a wire having a plurality of lugs thereon, a sheet folded upon itself to provide a pair of leaves and straddling said supporting element along its line of fold, an index card between the leaves of the folded sheet, and a card holder between the lugs on the supporting element detachably securing said card to the supporting element.

LE ROI E. I-IU'IGHINGS. 

